I was a fitness model for a day

Ever wondered what it would be like to have a team of people whose job it is to make you look fantastic—to capture your signature style and je ne sais quoi with all the highest production values known to man?

Well, two members of Team Well+Good got a chance to find out. And yes, it’s awesome. But also a little weird, it turns out.

For Well+Good’s first fashion collaboration, deputy editor Rebecca Davis and integrated marketing manager Kate Citron curated a box of the coolest activewear pieces anywhere for adidas’ Avenue A subscription box service. (And yes, you can still sign up to get the W+G box!)

And in addition to curating the box, they are starring in the ad campaign. What did they learn about life on the other side of the lens?

For starters: Modeling is chilly work (the shoot was during a late spring cold snap)—and the highs (mainly the attentions of a glam squad and amazing photographers) were balanced by humbling moments, like when a group of people stopped to gawk, thinking a celeb was being photographed, but when they saw it was “nobody,” they kept moving. (Not cool, people!)

Other things you learn when you spend the day as a fitness model? Keep reading for seven more lessons from the school of modeling hard knocks.

Rebecca Davis, deputy editor

1. No matter how many hours I spend trying to style the perfect top knot, I will never get it to look as good as a pro hair stylist can in 30 seconds flat.

2. You become that person who picks out the blueberries and strawberries from the catering tray, because you’ve been told you’ll be wearing just a sports bra and leggings for the second half of the day and, no matter how comfortable you are in your own skin, don’t want to be immortalized with bagel belly.

3. People will always stop and gawk when they see a film crew. Especially when we shot in Washington Square Park, there were so many tourists who took photos of us getting our photos taken. And as soon as one family with a camera stops to stare, every family with a camera needs to stop and stare too. Just in case they’re missing out on something special.

4. It pays off to get adventurous with your activewear picks. Adidas had racks and racks of clothing to choose from—which meant that I got to break out of my all-black routine and try something new. Turns out: I love high-waisted leggings and floral-printed sneakers!

Kate Citron, integrated marketing manager

5. I had no idea that fitness modeling would be so exhausting! We shot for a full 12 hours and literally ran around the city. By the time I got home, I was completely drained and had a newfound appreciation for what models go through.

6. It takes a huge hard-working team to make the magic happen. Ours was made up of over 15 people who worked in production, hair and makeup, creative direction, photography, and more. Each and every role was 100 percent necessary—I’m especially grateful for the assistants on set who kept me warm with jackets while we were shooting outside.

7. Angles are important…for footwear. I shot multiple takes that featured just my hands and a pair of sneakers, swiveling the shoes in different directions and at different speeds, bending it half to showcase its flexibility and holding the logo up to the camera for extra exposure. Who knew?

Want to know what Rebecca and Kate chose for the Well+Good-curated Avenue A box? Well, that’s a secret. But psst…we’ve got some very special inside info, just for Well+Good readers, coming soon. Look out for it on Monday.